News 15:00

BULLETIN 7 February 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The theft charges against SAFA boss Danny Jordaan are dropped
# The AKA murder case is transferred to the High Court in Durban
# And rugby: Fiji’s director is fired after just four days for comments about a ‘gay problem’ in the women’s team

# The state has withdrawn theft charges worth 800-thousand-rand against South African Football Association president, Danny Jordaan, and chief financial official, Gronie Hluyo. Jordaan, Hluyo and businessman Trevor Neethling made their fourth appearance in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge, Gauteng. The National Prosecuting Authority’s Phindi Mjonondwane says both still face fraud and conspiracy charges. Jordaan seeks dismissal of the case. She confirmed the postponement to 15 August:

# The trial against the accused in the murder case of Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane will start in the Durban High Court in May. Five men stand accused, including Mzwithemba Gwabeni and Lindokuhle Ndimande, who were denied bail after failing to present new evidence. The National Prosecuting Authority’s Natasha Ramkisson-Kara says they are prepared to proceed with or without the two additional suspects arrested in Eswatini:

# The remains of 14 South African National Defence Force soldiers killed in battle with M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo will be repatriated today. This follows several delays amid pending administrative processes with the United Nations. SABC News confirms the necessary administrative requirements have been met by South Africa and the repatriation is underway. They will travel through Rwanda and Uganda before flying to South Africa. The UN reports a total of two-thousand bodies have been collected in Goma, with 900 in hospitals.

# Rugby: Fiji needs another director after Laijipa Naulivou was fired after just four days in the role. This follows after she said the national women’s team had a gay problem. The comment during an interview caused widespread criticism as harmful and discriminatory. The former team captain revealed she had previously recommended the team be selected by a panel instead of a gay woman who chooses her people. Naulivou claimed homosexuality was a big drawback when the Fijiana participated in a previous world sevens tournament.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-42-cents and the euro at 19-rand-12-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-94-cents and Bitcoin trades at 97-thousand-701-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-866-dollars-94-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-70-cents a barrel.

# And finally: A survey by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group has revealed Springbok in the Northern Cape as the most expensive town or city for food in 2025. It leads with a food basket costing five-thousand-773-rand. Johannesburg follows at five-thousand-507-rand, surpassing Durban’s five-thousand-451-rand and Cape Town’s five-thousand-368-rand. The study analysed prices of 44 essential items, highlighting significant regional disparities in food affordability across the country.

Stay tuned for more news………….